Additional Notes

Hilda stumbles upon Tontu, a lost house spirit. Plunged into the secret world of the Nisse, Hilda discovers hidden passages that only the house spirits can navigate-and something has been ransacking them all!

Review Quote*

Hilda is coming to Netflix in 2018!A School Library Journal Top Graphic Novel of 2014A Booklist Top 10 Graphic Novel for Youth of 2014A Texas Library Association Little Mavericks Nominee for 2015

Pearson's utter lack of pretension keeps Hilda feeling fresh, while his reading of folktales and Tove Jansson's Moomin series embeds Hilda in the long history of children's stories. […] Hilda's dilemmas, while fantastic, also feel real […] Pearson has found a lovely new way to dramatize childhood demons, while also making you long for your own cruise down the fjords.-The New Yorker

Though definitely an underachiever when it comes to merit badges, Hilda's broad curiosity and willingness to stand up for the undergnome will make her a winner in most readers' eyes. -Kirkus Reviews

In gorgeous, oversize pages filled with warm jewel tones, Pearson's varied panel layouts and detailed, purplish backgrounds artfully carry emotional weight and subtle humor in equal measure… Every volume of this fairy-tale-adventure series is a must-have.-Booklist

Pearson has mastered both the gentler aspects of creating a compelling children's character along with the art of conjuring an exciting, kinetic comic book adventure. The fourth book in the Hilda series is the best, as the character is now established enough on the page to allow for a greater exploration of her environment. The design, the use of color and especially Pearson's line are all impeccably beautiful without being slick.-The Comics Journal

One thing is for certain: if you're like me and have the previous books already, then the good news is that "Black Hound" is an excellent addition to the series. And if you've never checked out a "Hildafolk" book before, then the better news is that "Black Hound" is a great place to start. A shift from the previous books in style but not losing an iota of the established, accessible and (most importantly) friendly tone, "Hilda and the Black Hound" is exactly the type of comics we need to see more of.-Multiversity

[Hilda's world] is. . . a glorious, exciting if also rather menacing place-one children will be eager to enter. It's also visually arresting: exuberant and lively and faintly Miyazakian.-The New York Times

Hilda is the little girl. And this is her folk tale. And pretty much everything you need to know about how good this is is there on that absolutely gorgeously delightful cover. By the end of it, you'll have exactly the same smile as Hilda has.-Forbidden Planet

For adults ... Pearson's measured storytelling ... and detailed, imaginative artwork make Hilda and the Bird Parade an absolute treat to dive into. It's hard to imagine a better all-ages comic will be published this year."-Slate

Very enjoyable, it's imaginative and fun for kids and adults too!-Renata Liewska, author of bestselling The Quiet Book

With the Hildafolk series, Luke Pearson has carved himself a unique niche in the UK comics scene: a successful all-ages graphic novel series and it is much deserved. It is clearly the vision of one man and Hilda and the Black Hound is another thrilling and alluring instalment to Pearson's signature series.-Broken Frontier

A riot of colour and animist magic-The Times

A beautifully drawn (literally and figuratively) comic-Observer

The Hilda books follow the exploits of a smart, blue-haired girl who lives in a village called Trolberg with her mom and her antlered pup named Twig. Pearson expertly mixes fantasy elements with familiar everyday stuff-for instance, in this volume, Hilda joins the scouts and has trouble completing the tasks she needs to do in order to earn her badges. -Mental Floss

Hilda and the Black Hound is filled with magic, in all senses of that word.-Comics Bulletin

These are gorgeous books and Flying Eye, like Nobrow before it, continues to be a publisher to watch. The Hildafolk books all feel like they're children's books for the ages as soon as you read them and Hilda and the Black Hound is a beautiful addition to the series.-Comicsgirl

There's a subtlety and sophistication to the Hildafolk books; pauses and quiet panels speak volumes to what a character is thinking or feeling. While Pearson's art style could be described as simple cartooning, he does what masterful illustrators do, express a lot of emotion and mood with few, clean lines and rich color. You get incredibly detailed and powerful panels and pages which never feel cluttered, unless they're intended to be. These are truly beautiful books and Hilda's charming sense of wonder is appealing to everyone, no matter how old or young.-The Mary Sue

This is perfection in sixty-four pages. Hilda is brave, resourceful, compassionate, capable of epically screwing up, and always does things with the very best of intentions; in other words, totally human. Charmingly and enticingly illustrated, the icing on the cake is the fact that Pearson never dumbs things down for his audience. The resulting dry wit found in both text and illustrations is as appealing to adults as it is to kids.-Foreword Reviews

The attractions of the Hilda series are quite easily surmised. There is the clever knitting together of various northern European traditions, the artist's increasing competency with page composition, his good ear for simple but humorous dialogue, his pleasing character designs, and his consistent and attractive line which has achieved a fine flowering in The Bird Parade and The Black Hound. -The Hooded Utilitarian

Hilda is a curious, intelligent, and adventure-seeking protagonist. Fans will delight in her adventures, and Pearson's lush art is gorgeous without being crowded.-School Library Journal

This modern twist on Mary Norton's "Borrowers" stories is full of fanciful details, and Pearson's imaginative depiction of space turns ordinary surroundings inside out.-Good Comics For Kids

The Black Hound takes the strongest elements of the art styles from all of the previous Hilda books and combines them into one really wonderful volume of art. […] the adventure here is entertaining and moving.-Comics Alliance

The stories are never what you expect and I'm always surprised, amazed, and in love all over again. -Jean Little Library

Biographical Note

Luke Pearson is the artist and writer of the Hilda series of graphic novels. He has fast become one of the leading talents of the United Kingdom and United States comics scene, garnering rave reviews from the New York Times and the School Library Journal. He was the winner of the Young People's Comic category at the British Comic Award in 2012, and he has been nominated for the Eisner Award's Best Publication for Kids and Best Writer/Artist in 2013. He has recently written and storyboarded multiple episodes of the cult classic show Adventure Time. He lives in Bristol, United Kingdom.